Jobs for all sacked wharfies is key demand

April 29, 1998
Issue 

By Alex Bainbridge

HOBART — Hundreds of Maritime Union of Australia members and supporters marched through the streets of Hobart on April 23, then held a victory celebration as the news of the Federal Court's rejection of Patrick's appeal came through. The rally was especially significant in a city with few maritime workers, no Patrick port and (thus far) little public campaigning in support of the wharfies.

The threat to close Patrick's ports at Burnie and Bell Bay in the state's north remains in full force. The union believes that while other companies would be prepared to take over Patrick operations at these ports, and give MUA members the jobs, a new operator would want to employ fewer workers.

The demand that all sacked wharfies be re-employed with no loss of conditions therefore remains crucial. This was made especially clear when Patrick offered some of the sacked workers in Tasmania three-month contracts with cutbacks in pay and conditions (although it seems that this offer has now been withdrawn).

The first May Day rally in Hobart for around 10 years is being held at lunchtime on May 1. It is being organised by the Tasmanian Trades and Labour Council after community activists lobbied for and then began organising a May Day rally in solidarity with the MUA and other workers' rights. May Day events are also planned for Burnie, on May 3.

Both the TTLC and the Democratic Socialist Party have been building support for the MUA at the Salamanca markets in Hobart.

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